By Angela Mitchell, author, Start Before You Are Ready!
In month 5 of your 6-month adventure into accomplishing your goal and dream, we take a step back so you can see what you have accomplished to date.
Go back to the notes you’ve been taking, the goals you have achieved so far, and give yourself a big pat on the back for a job well done!
From us: A round of applause!
Now, take a deep breath because we are going to step into a phase that will provide necessary insight and clarity: We are going to help you play devil’s advocate and think about what could go wrong.
Instead of thinking of it as a challenge, the important perspective on your roadmap will help you prepare for potential pitfalls and problems — before you make them.
Why is this important? As an adventurer on a mission to accomplish a big goal, we know it’s scary to not know what’s going to happen next. Our goal in this chapter is to minimize your fears.
Meet your new best friend: The Obstacle Mitigation Plan
Here’s my plan that helped me understand and overcome obstacles to my goals: Add in Angela’s case study with CASE and/or Kids Code, Too!
- What was your goal?
- What were your obstacles?
- What did you do to overcome them?
- What still stumped you?
- How did you execute?
- What’s your advice for others?
Here’s how three of my colleagues did it:
Case study 1:
- What was your goal?
- What were your obstacles?
- What did you do to overcome them?
- What still stumped you?
- How did you execute?
- What’s your advice for others?
Case study 2:
- What was your goal?
- What were your obstacles?
- What did you do to overcome them?
- What still stumped you?
- How did you execute?
- What’s your advice for others?
Case study 3:
- What was your goal?
- What were your obstacles?
- What did you do to overcome them?
- What still stumped you?
- How did you execute?
- What’s your advice for others?
Here’s how you can do it, too!
- Think about it: Ask yourself what has stopped me from believing I can hit this milestone?
- example 1
- example 2
- example 3
- Unpack it: Dive deeper into your reasoning.
- Example 1: If your end goal is to start a business, but you don’t have access to cash, your milestone on the roadmap will be to secure a business loan.
- Example 2: What would keep you from getting a loan? Bad credit. You bank isn’t small business friendly. How do you find one that is?
- Example 3: What can you do about it?
- Do your research: Search the internet, talk to friends, search the #Goals app
- Crowdsource it: Use the #Goals app
- On the #Goals app: Search the app others who faced similar goals and learn how they overcame these obstacles
- Find mentors who you can work with to guide you through the process.
- Other mentees will give you feedback about other obstacles you might run into.
Create an Obstacle Mitigation Plan
- Enter the Goal (example: I want to start a business)
- Enter the timeline (within 3 years)
- Enter your milestones (Example: Write business plan, securing financing, identify customer base, market idea, build website, open bank account, submit business paperwork (EIN, business name, trademark, etc)
- Enter 3-5 potential obstacles (Example: No personal financing, don’t know how to build a website, etc)
- Print your master roadmap
- Decide if you want to share the roadmap
- Allow community of people in the app to give recommendations to achieve milestones and/or connecting people that can help with the milestone from step 3. (Example: one person may list the steps necessary to submit business paperwork, one person may recommend the FIVR app to build a website, etc.)
- Allow community of people in the app to give recommendations for to overcome the obstacles from step 4. (Example: One person may know a bank willing to help starting small businesses, one person may know a trademark lawyer, etc.)
Questions? I look forward to helping you achieve your dreams! Please send me an email.
Coming next: In Month 6, you’ll master the art of networking to help you reach your goal! Stay tuned for more.